Shane J

Take your time with this purchase, and you will find a great boat in that price range, that will last you for years, and be a huge step up from a flat bottom. You will probably find something newer than the one you mentioned, probably between 17'-18', with a solid, reliable 150 on it. Good luck with your search, and just remember to have a boat guy check out the motor before you buy.

Swim jig with a Rage Craw trailer. Because I'm after the biggest bass around, and I can cover water quickly and thoroughly with that combo.

I'm over the river and through the woods in NH, but the Ct River is LOADED with smallmouth!

Jig and Craw for size, which is what I fish for. If I was going for numbers, then a crank or Senko would probably be it.

Man, you guys put it on 'em! Great fish and pictures! Sounds like a lotta fun!

I was thinking line guide, too.

Yes, that will work, a lot of people use a circle hook and nose-hooked baits on a C-rig. I personally only use 4/0 EWG hooks, and bigger baits, like the Eeliminator, Anaconda, or Lizard, and don't have a gut hooking problem. Try using braid as your main line for the increased sensitivity, and you might get off a quicker hook set.

There are a number of riggings that are effective, it just depends on the conditions and type of cover you are fishing. For sparse cover or open water, I like to rig it on a 1/4oz weighted swimbait hook, just like a little swimbait (bait verticle, hook through the belly slot). For pitching into wood, I turn it sideways on the same type of hook (I like the Moaner weighted Stroker), and let it flutter on down like a wounded baitfish. For bottom presentations, use it on a standard Tx rig with a pegged weight, or even on a standup (shakey head) jig head (no skirt). It works on a skirted jig, too, but I usually save my Shell Crackers, and use a Menace or Craw on those. Hope that helps! Vertical (weighted hook) Horizontal (weighted hook) Vertical (T/rig) Naked Jig Head

True. If you're pitching into the trees, use a heavy braid, and if you're working in the rocks, use 25lb flouro, both on a heavy action rod.

A lot of folks opt for cranks and spinnerbaits in the spring, especially during pre-spawn. My favorite, though, is a swim jig with a Rage Tail Baby Craw on the back.

Great stuff, Jeff! That's a lake I'd love to fish sometime.

Maybe less action is preferred for you, but not for me. There are times when bass are in a mood or whatever, and they will go for one over the other, but I think big action all the time is how you are going to get the BIGGEST fish to bite, the most often.

Those will most definitely produce fish with their close proximity to deeper water. Some of those may even end up being bedding locations. Only problem I can think of, is it won't be secret for long, being such an obvious place to start, trees or no trees. Great job, though, good luck.

That second one is purdy.

Yeah, that's real nice! You are gonna love it!

Good stuff, man.

Could be missing some fish, who knows. It does work well in temps like that, and I use a size 1 Gammie drop shot hook, no matter if I'm after LM or SM.

That does look yummy, A-Jay. I would fish that with a whole bunch of bigger craw baits, like a Lobster or Space Monkey. Punch that baby with a 10z tungsten weight through matted lily pads!

While both have a time and place for me, the 7" is a god size to start with. Try keel-weighting it, and using it across shallow matted grass! If you fish a lot of muddy water, or at night, or where big bass live, I'd switch to the 10" on a Tx rig.

Makes sense.

No trailer necessary? Really? I guess I can see it working, and I'm sure it does, but I just never throw a jig without a trailer, so this is foreign to me. I mean, you don't have to get all Lobster or Space Monkey, but not even Menace or Baby Craw? It's like peanut butter and jelly on a jig like that.

You will be hearing more from this combo after I get back from down south after the Classic, I promise. We will probably use the Falcon as our dark option, and Green Pumpkin/Purple Gold as our light option, though (on a Tilapia colored jig).

I love when Dick's has those surprise clearance sales! I got 3 Curados last year (two different stores) for $75 a piece, and a 45lb Minn Kota transom mount trolling motor for my little jon boat for $65!! Even the wife knows when that is on, and I'm on to it, just pass me a credit card, and get out of the way!

Most used line type for me. Definitely check out the Seaguar and the Vicious.

Yes, that Windex does work, and so does KVD Line and Lure. Barely takes any to do your screens.